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Christina Gao is the REAL deal!
- Thread starter cornell08
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- Joined
- Dec 28, 2006
She reminded me a little of a junior Mao there. It will be interesting to see if she has any better luck handling the puberty monster than Mirari and Caroline. Right now everything looks great (juniorish, but strong fundamentals). Again, it will be interesting.
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2009
More like mini Yuna than Mao. Her build, her jumping style, her spins, are all like Yuna. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVSpow1HEBQ
^^ Yuna at 2005 jr worlds.
Anyone else see the resemblance? Also, Christina's coach is Brian Orser. Can't get a better coach than him . Love this girl
^^ Yuna at 2005 jr worlds.
Anyone else see the resemblance? Also, Christina's coach is Brian Orser. Can't get a better coach than him . Love this girl
I think her technique is far more solid than Caroline and Mirai's were even before their growth spurts. She has excellent jump technique and speed. Better technique/foundations than any of the current US ladies IMO. Another job well done-- or perhaps talent well spotted? by Brian Orser.
This is going to sound so cliche, but she reminds me of a JGP Yuna. The resemblance is spooky.
The coaches reactions are so funny/cute-- Brian was jumping up and cheering like he does when Yuna performs well
What a huge improvement over not even one year!
This is going to sound so cliche, but she reminds me of a JGP Yuna. The resemblance is spooky.
The coaches reactions are so funny/cute-- Brian was jumping up and cheering like he does when Yuna performs well
What a huge improvement over not even one year!
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- Joined
- Nov 12, 2009
Yes, Christina definitely is very much like a young Yu-Na. She jumps like her, spins like her, even her spiral sequence is exactly like Yu-Na's, and with the same degree of flexibility too. 
Just curious, I wonder how she got Brian Orser to take her.. Is he in the U.S. a lot or did she meet him at another competition or something?
Her jumps are probably her strongest point right now. Her consistency is great too. Including summer competitions, she's nailed at least 3 clean longs this year. Her spins need work though. While she can hit some lovely positions, she noticeably loses speed in other positions. I'm sure this is something Brian Orser will work with her on.
But anyway, it's clear that Christina has a lot of potential. I agree, she has improved so much within the last year. Watching her now, it's hard to believe she placed behind DeeDee Leng and Ellie Kawamura in a very weak junior field last Nationals... Should be interesting to see how she does in the senior competition this year. I hope USFSA sends actual juniors (well, juniors internationally) to Junior Worlds this year instead of sticking Caroline/Mirai there again..
Just curious, I wonder how she got Brian Orser to take her.. Is he in the U.S. a lot or did she meet him at another competition or something?Her jumps are probably her strongest point right now. Her consistency is great too. Including summer competitions, she's nailed at least 3 clean longs this year. Her spins need work though. While she can hit some lovely positions, she noticeably loses speed in other positions. I'm sure this is something Brian Orser will work with her on.
But anyway, it's clear that Christina has a lot of potential. I agree, she has improved so much within the last year. Watching her now, it's hard to believe she placed behind DeeDee Leng and Ellie Kawamura in a very weak junior field last Nationals... Should be interesting to see how she does in the senior competition this year. I hope USFSA sends actual juniors (well, juniors internationally) to Junior Worlds this year instead of sticking Caroline/Mirai there again..
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2009
You're all right; she's like a young Yu Na! (In fact, she lists Yu Na as her favourite skater as well)
She has great basics and jumping technique. Obviously, her spins and maturity aren't quite there yet but wow what potential! Definitely one to watch! (Hopefully, the puberty monster won't strike that hard).
Orser seems to have a good stable of skaters, all of whom are doing well. I think we're definitely going to see him around (and his reactions at the rinkside is lots of fun anyway)
I hope USFSA stops sending Caroline, Ashley, Rachael or Mirai to JW (if getting slots for the 2011 JGP/JW is their concern, I don't see it as a problem if they send the JGP ladies). I'm rooting for Gao, Maxwell and Baga.
She has great basics and jumping technique. Obviously, her spins and maturity aren't quite there yet but wow what potential! Definitely one to watch! (Hopefully, the puberty monster won't strike that hard).
Orser seems to have a good stable of skaters, all of whom are doing well. I think we're definitely going to see him around (and his reactions at the rinkside is lots of fun anyway
) I hope USFSA stops sending Caroline, Ashley, Rachael or Mirai to JW (if getting slots for the 2011 JGP/JW is their concern, I don't see it as a problem if they send the JGP ladies). I'm rooting for Gao, Maxwell and Baga.
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2009
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- Oct 20, 2005
Until Gao moved to Orser earlier this year, she was coached by Stephanie Miller and Ted Masdea in Northern Kentucky. I don't know how she & Orser met, but it seems like a great match already. JW
:scratch: Compared to the other JGP ladies? Her basic skating is not weak at all-- she's got a better foundation than alot of the senior US ladies. If anything, perhaps her interpretation and transitional flow could use some improvement. All she needs is some more experience.
Why such negativity? You never seem to have much good to say about any US skater.
It so happens that Gao had the HIGHEST TES in the FS, higher than Murakami and Shelepen. So much for "weak" basic skating.
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2009
Physique-wise, yes, she's like a fledgling YuNa. Some of her movements, too (I guess that's the influence of Brian.) Technically, she's all right. 
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2009
Considering she's built a lot like Yuna at that age, I wouldn't worry about it. Yuna went through puberty smoothly and developed into her grown up body without gaining a lot of weight or struggling with her jumps along the way.
As for Caroline, her technique is awful, so growing just exacerbated that fact. Gao has solid and normal technique
As for Mirai, she grew way more than most people her age do. Almost 10 inches in less than 3 years. She was 4'7" when she won junior national title at 13, the next year she was 4'11", last year she was 5'3", now she's 5'4.5". That's a LOT of inches. Christina is already 5'1" and most likely she will end up somewhere between 5'3" and 5'5" if you consider that Caroline, Mirai, Mao, Miki, Yuna, Akiko, are all between 5'3" and 5'5". 3 or 4 inches isn't a huge deal and with good technique she should be able to get through it alright.
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2009
LOL I had the dumbest development ever. 5'2 at 11 years and remained 5'2 ever since. Freakish tall girl at an early age and shortie for the rest of her life. SIGH.
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2009
^^ I was the opposite. 4'9" at 13, 5'1" at 15 and they told me I wasn't going to grow anymore. Now i'm 19 and 5'5" and the doctors have no idea how it happened
Actually, it's entirely possible to earn the highest TES at a competition while having weaker basic skating. All it takes is landing more difficult jumps. And maybe getting higher levels on the non-jump elements.
To argue for stronger basic skating based on the scores, look at the Skating Skills component, not the TES.
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